Human cases are often spatially and temporally clustered,
following heavy rains and winds with resultant human
exposure to soil and water.
14,15
B. pseudomalleialso causes
melioidosis in a wide range of animals in endemic areas.
16
In Hong Kong, melioidosis is an endemic disease not only in
humans but also in captive marine mammals and birds,
including bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, pilot
whales, and zebra doves.
17
Treatment of melioidosis can
be difficult, asB. pseudomalleiis often resistant to multiple
antibiotics, and a prolonged course of antibiotics is required